Hermann wark



(No ModeL) H. WARK.

NAME OR SIGN PLATE.

No. 391,727. Patented O0t.23,1888.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

NITEU S'ra'rns HERMANN WARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NAME GR SlGN PLATE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,727, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed April 11, 1888. Serial No. 270,265. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN WARK, of the city, county, and State of New Yorl ,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Name or Sign Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved name or sign plate to be used for the letterboxes of flat and tenement houses, and for doors and signs generally; and the invention consists of a name or sign plate composed of an exterior frame provided with parallel longitudinal slits, a depressed panel plate between the slits, re-eni'orced by a longitudinal rib at the back and provided with notches at the rear side for attaching the bent prongs of the letters, which letters are placed in position along the face of the panel-plate, the prongs being passed through the slits and bent into the notches at the rear side of the panel-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved name or sign plate. Fig. 2 is a rear eleva- U tion of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section on line 00 :r, Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 a side view of the letters used in connection with my improved name or sign plate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the 'main frame of my improved name or sign plate, which frame is provided with a raised or offset middle portion when the same is to beinserted into the fronts of letter boxes of flat and tenement houses. WVhen it is to be used for door-plates or signs,thc offset for the raised middle portion is not required. The frame A is provided with two parallel longi tudinal slits, a a,and a panel'plate, G, between the same, which is slightly depressed, so as to provide for the thickness of the letters B, which form the same, said letters being made of cast metal or cut by means of dies from suitable sheet metal and provided with bent prongs I), as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4. The depressed panel-plate O is re-enforced by a longitudinal bar or rib, D, which is soldered to the rear side of the panel-plate and set by its beveled ends into corresponding grooves of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 2. The

panel-plate G is provided at each side of its rear edge with notches d, which serve to receive the bent prongs Z) of the letters B, so as to keep the letters N in position at the front part of the panel-plate O.

In making my improved name or sign plate a number of letters, B, are manufactured and their prongs b bent at right angles to the body of the letters. The letters forming any required name'are then placed in position on the panel-plate C, so that the prongs pass through the slits a a to the rear of the panelplate, where they are bent over and into the notches after the proper spacing between the letters has been arranged. The prongs hold the letters rigidly in position,so as to prevent the shifting of the same along the front of the panel-plate G. The main frame may be made of cast metal, hard rubber, or other suitable material, the panel A plate being preferably provided with a grain, so as to form a background for the letters, while the surrounding surface of the surrounding frame is preferably polished. In this manner a name or sign plate can be made up within short notice, with any desired name and in a very neat and flu ished manner, and thereby the unsightly writ ten or printed cards which are at present in use for indicating the names on letter-boxes and doors be dispensed with and a comparatively cheap and neat plate furnished in their place.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A name or sign plate consisting of a main frame having parallel longitudinal slits, a panel-plate between said slits made integral with the main frame and provided with notches at its rear edges, and letters having bent prongs which are inserted into the slits and applied to said notches, substantially as set forth.

2. A name or sign plate composed of a main frame having parallel longitudinal slits, a depressed panel-plate between said slits, a longitudinal re-enforeing bar or rib extending along the rear of the panel-plate, notches atthe rear edges of the panel-plate, and letters provided with prongs that pass through the slits and engage the notches, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: HERMANN WARK.

PAUL GoEPEL, JOHN G. EBMEYER. 

